{"product_id":"maureen-paton-the-mystery-at-rake-hall-2026-paperback","title":"Maureen Paton: The Mystery at Rake Hall [2026] paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Satisfyingly violent'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e, Best Crime Fiction of 2025 So Far\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Sprightly and elegantly written mystery'\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Daily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A marvellous literary thriller' Clare Chase\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A clever and refreshing take on the mystery novel' Jo Silva\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e In post-war Oxford, secrets lie behind every door.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1947, with rationing still biting and the black market thriving, university don C.S. 'Jack' Lewis finds himself pulled into a mystery straight from one of his friend Dorothy Sayers' novels. Susan Temple, his brightest student, has hidden herself away at Rake Hall - a hostel for unmarried, outcast mothers - and hasn't been heard from since.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith no experience beyond catching the occasional student plagiarist, Lewis is hardly a detective. But when Susan's absence continues to haunt him, he teams up with her concerned friend Lucy and together they delve into the disturbing rumours of a nasty racket at Rake Hall. Can Lewis's nose for the truth separate fact from fiction?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Mystery at Rake Hall\u003c\/em\u003e, Maureen Paton - whose mother lived at the real-life Rake Hall while pregnant with Maureen - brilliantly recreates a post-war Oxford world, as well as imagining an alternative life for one of its most famous residents.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRAVE READER REVIEWS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'An homage to post war Oxford ... an entertaining read with a mystery to solve'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Blends historical authenticity with a compelling \"whodunit\"'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Very easy to read, a page-turner and a real sense of Oxford'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'I loved this mystery .. the author brought to life the time beautifully ... I cannot wait to see what she offers for her second book but this one will be hard to top'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'An enjoyable, atmospheric and very cosy read'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A famous real-life writer solving a mystery ... I really enjoyed it'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Paton, Maureen","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":53207633264979,"sku":"9781800754850","price":13.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0616\/4001\/6057\/files\/paton-maureen-maureen-paton-the-mystery-at-rake-hall-2026-paperback-9781800754850-1226688228.jpg?v=1773090218","url":"https:\/\/chaptersbookstore.com\/products\/maureen-paton-the-mystery-at-rake-hall-2026-paperback","provider":"Chapters Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}